Pursuing The Elite

We typically don’t write a lot of recruiting stuff here on RazorBloggers — preferring to read our favorites Richard Davenport, Dudley Dawson, Trey Biddy and Otis Kirk. And judging by the hits on our Recruiting News links, a lot of you do the same.

But this weekend is different — our interest has gone to a new level. Twenty recruits are scheduled to be on campus, and they include some of the highest ranked players in the nation — including the #1 national recruit in wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham (6-6, 220, 4.43).

Finishing in the top five of the polls shows you just how close the Hogs are getting to reaching the top of that mountain. A few key commits from this weekend’s list of visitors could help escalate that climb very quickly.

Much of the focus (rightfully so) will be on Green-Beckham, who has Arkansas in his top three (Oklahoma, Texas), and could immediately help a receiving corps that will graduate three superstars to the NFL.

Three other recruits, though, who will be in Fayetteville this weekend have piqued our interest. These guys, if they choose to be Hogs, could be difference makers at need positions.

OL Jordan Diamond (6-6, 289, Chicago, Illinois) — Rivals.com has Diamond a 4-star recruit, and when you look at his highlight video, all he does is deliver one pancake block after another. The Hogs are battling Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin for this prized tackle prospect.

LB Dalton Santos (6-2, 251, 4.65, Van, Texas) — Santos is the big, inside, run-stopping linebacker that the Hogs have been missing. Watching him run from sideline to sideline shows us why he is a coveted playmaker. The Hogs are hoping for a flip here as Santos is currently committed to Tennessee.

RB Trey Williams (5-8, 175, 4.4, Spring, Texas) — We can’t help it — even with all this passing — we are dazzled by elite running backs. Williams certainly fills that bill. A current commit to Texas A&M, Williams is ranked the #2 running back in the nation by Rivals. He has tremendous speed, and looks very elusive in space.

National Signing day comes early this year: February 1st. And if Coach Petrino and the staff have a good weekend, that day might turn out to be more like Christmas for Hog fans.

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DGB is the big honcho of this bunch for the Hogs. Even though we already have a lot of talent at the WR position, DGB is not only a game changer, but a program changer, as far as Arkansas is concerned.

Landing the #1 recruit in the nation is HUGE for the Razorback football program. Land him, then you might somehow lure in another top prospect.

Talent attracts more talent, so landing DGB (which I think we will) could pay big dividends in the end.

If we could somehow convince Dalton Santos to climb on board with DGB, then who knows, we might even land another top recruit, but those 2 are definately tops IMO.

Gonzo, you are spot on. Good players want to play with good players. That’s where getting the #1 national recruit could play big with others on the fence.

Our eyes, down the stretch here, are focused on the defensive side of the ball. Getting CB Will Hines to flip from Missouri was good news yesterday. If they can pull Santos out of the hat, we’ll be on our way.

GolfHog

Bobby is on the verge of making this the “it” program for the next few years, at least in the midwest. We need to compete for recruits against Florida, GA, Bama, and LSU in the SEC hotbeds. But, if we can also pick up the cream of the crop in the Midwest, guys normally headed to Texas, OU, and others, Bobby can compete for that NC. The foundation has been laid. Now it’s time to build upon it. With a group like this on campus Bobby will get two or three.

MemphisHog

I agree that big recruits want to play with other big names, but with DGB waiting til signing day to decide officially where he’s gonna play, that doesn’t really work out to draw other big names.

I agree he’s a game changer, but with our recruiting class being 11th in the SEC right now, I’m a little worried we don’t have many big names already verbally committed. It’s hard to compete with a class like that when everyone else in your conference is ranked in the top 10…